rhodesian mercenary mike rousseau

They generally served alongside Rhodesian personnel in a large number of units, though a group of Frenchmen served together in a separate unit. The Rhodesian government did not formally reply. Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Portugal had ruled Mozambique for . Mike Rousseau was a white Rhodesian mercenary engaged in combat against FRELIMO guerillas in and around the Mozambique capital of Maputo. Britain and the United Nations Security Council imposed wide-ranging trade and other sanctions on Rhodesia with the objective of forcing it to return to its previous status. Come join the discussion about optics, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Forum Categories |-- Political Videos The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. [21], While most of the security forces' personnel were black, the Rhodesian government had a strong preference for whites. articles and videos are considered to be suggestions and not recommendations from Springfield Armory. Military historians Paul L. Moorcraft and Peter McLaughlin believe the number was likely around 1,400, but have noted that estimates from other experts range as high as 2,000. [8] The academic Michael Evans has written that "the Fronts world-struggle ideology was based on a conspiratorial interpretation of modern politics that emphasised virulent forms of Anglophobia, anti-communism, anti-internationalism, and anti-liberalism". It was finished in 1980 and published in 1991. [93], The legality of volunteering for the Rhodesian Security Forces varied between other countries. There is evidence that the Departments of Justice and State tacitly encouraged Americans to volunteer for Rhodesia as part of efforts to prevent the country collapsing before a negotiated solution to the war could be finalised. Not exactly a headshot, but the situation was terminated. MOZAMBIQUE DRILL.. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. Rousseau had a pistol. A former police ofcer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected rearms authorities writing on the subject today. Rousseau fired two quick shots that struck the enemy soldier in the chest, but failed to stop him. Transitioning between targets can take some getting used to, especially for shooters still trying to get some experience under their belts. However, this drill is mostly concerned with improving your shooting skills rather than learning the nuances of self-defense tactics. ), Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2023). If you can successfully perform the drill in under five seconds, youre doing better than most law enforcement officers. This is an effective way to stop a threat that isnt immediately stopped by two shots to the bodys center mass. The British military did not take up a suggestion by the FCO that it warn servicemen against enlisting with the Rhodesian Security Forces on the grounds that serving as a mercenary was not actually illegal. You have entered an incorrect email address! [22] The number of white conscripts in the security forces was also increased by considerably expanding the age groups of men who were required to serve and the periods of active duty reservists needed to undertake. So how does a Rhodesian mercenary figure into the story? During the fighting, he encountered a guerrilla fighter armed with an AK-47 at . [35] Organisations representing veterans were another method used to contact potential recruits. Copyright Ammotogo.com 2023 All Rights Reserved. It is commonly known as a" Mozambique Drill" because it comes from a story told to Cooper from Rhodesian Mike Rousseau, a mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Rousseau was fighting at the airport at Loureno Marques, which is now called Maputo. He is a contributing editor to numerous gun-enthusiast magazines and websites, including Combat Handguns, Black Guns, Gun Tests, Gun Digest, Gun World, Ballistic, range365.com, SHOT Business, and others. |-- General Discussion It is not the only way to do things, and was never intended to be taken as the one true way.. In many countries it was illegal to serve with the Rhodesian Security Forces. It is vital to mix up your training, firing different numbers of shots into your targets, at different locations, because you never know if your first shot or your fifteenth is going to be the one that stops the threat. Two to the body and one to the head is guaranteed to stop a threat. The so-called Mozambique Drill (two shots to the chest, one to the head) was actually developed by accident by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the War of Independence in Mozambique when two pistol shots to the torso failed to bring down an enemy guerrilla. After the end of the Frontier War, he went on to create a popular bloodsport competition called the Apex Games. According to anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). Center mass is easier to hit quickly, and in most cases will effectively stop a threat. [56] The desertion rate among foreigners serving in the SAS was particularly high. Center mass shots are easier to make quickly. [22], From the mid-1970s the Rhodesian government began placing advertisements seeking volunteers in the international media. It was also unclear whether serving in the Rhodesian military was illegal under laws that prohibited service in foreign militaries as the British did not recognise Rhodesia's independence. As the story goes, a Rhodesian named Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. He is the author of numerous gun books, including 9MM Guide to America's Most Popular Caliber, a #1 New Release on Amazon. Rousseau later related the story to an acquaintance, Jeff Cooper, who incorporated the "triple tap" or "Mozambique Drill" into his practical shooting technique. FRELIMO's Marxist underpinnings earned it support from Russia and China. An accurate shot to the T-zone (the area between the eyebrows and upper lip, also called the ocular cavity) damages the brain and central nervous system and secures instant incapacitation of the target. Today, with the proliferation of zombies in our culture, it could be called the zombie drill or zombie check, because a head shot is the only way to kill a zombie. [47], All foreign volunteers were required to complete basic training upon arrival in Rhodesia, even if they had prior military experience. A par time for this drill should be four seconds. Remember, the Mozambique drill is designed for a defensive situation where the first two shots failed to stop an attacker. Live The Armory Life. It kind of worked. As of 2021, the literature largely comprises brief discussions of the topic as part of books and academic journal articles on broader issues. Mike Rousseau, a Rhodesian mercenary during the Mozambican War of Independence, was armed only with a 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol, and he rounded a corner at Loureno Marques (now Maputo) Airport and came face-to-face with an African guerilla armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, less than 25 feet away. McAleese had previously led a group of British mercenaries in Angola, and was posted to the elite Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) after completing training. LLC. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! In the late 1960s and early 1970s, much of Africa burned. So, as the story goes, Rousseau was involved in a firefight at the airport. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. Portugal still maintained strong control over Mozambique. Modern zombie culture has also appropriated the Mozambique Drill. These It is estimated that between 800 and 2,000 foreign volunteers enlisted, with the exact number not being known. The Portuguese forces collaborated with Rhodesia which had experience from the Bush War in the early 1960s to create special forces teams to deal with FRELIMO. [46] Economic factors also influenced some of the volunteers, as they believed that the Rhodesian Security Forces offered better career prospects than those available in their home country. If any of your three shots land outside the V zones, you have failed the drill. During a fight, he bumped into a guerrilla soldier armed with an AK-47. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). The British noted that such a resolution might prove impractical as many Rhodesians held dual citizenship. Big Forums [34] Foreign volunteers were also offered land if they settled in Rhodesia after completing their service with the security forces. Guerrilla fighters were swarming the airport and Rousseau turned a corner and nearly bumped into a FRELIMO fighter wielding an AK-47. People have an annoying habit of wanting to move around when you are shooting at them. Two shots to the chest failed to stop the guy, so Rousseau had to transition point of aim for a head shot. Southern Rhodesia was a self-governing British colony located in southern Africa whose economy and government was dominated by the small white minority of its population. The scope of these sanctions was increased over time, and included restrictions on support for its military. The foreign volunteers who fought for the country are celebrated by these groups. Rousseau immediately performed a double tap two shots to the center of the torso. [8] The historian Donal Lowry has endorsed Evans' views, noting also that "the Rhodesia Front sought to combine the notion that Rhodesia embodied the best of true Britishness, the notion that white Rhodesians were the sort of people who once made the Great" of Britain, while turning to America as the only remaining champion of the Free World. The third shot should be aimed to destroy the brain or brain stem, killing the target and preventing the target from retaliating. [39] An exception was a group of almost 200 French military personnel who enlisted together in late 1976. Click the Go To Forum Thread link below to jump in! [22][27] Men with previous military experience, and especially service in wars, were preferred. The most effective way is two easy shots to the attackers center of mass, then assess the target. The story goes that this technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau. This unit performed poorly and committed atrocities that included raping women during operations. Thank you for your support. However, here we are more concerned with your shooting than tactics, because the subtle nuances of the proper tactics can vary from situation to situation. dissenting.). For simple evaluation purposes, position a target with a V1 and V2 zone 5 yards to your front. [38], Most of the foreigners who volunteered to fight for Rhodesia did so individually. [66] The difficult conditions contributed to high desertion rates. Ideally, a more practical application might be to fire two shots to the torso, take two steps back and to the side to keep your distance and, if your attacker is still attacking, attempt the head shot. The Triple Tap Callsign can be unlocked by playing with the Mozambique, and Triple Tap XL can be unlocked via Advocate Gift. I came about after Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau told the story of an encounter he had in combat at an airport. Seeing that the fighter was still advancing, Rousseau attempted a head shot that hit the guerrilla through the base of his neck, severing the spinal cord. The reality of the war confronted Rousseau at the airport in Loureno Marques, which has been called Maputo since 1976. Mike Rousseau was a trained soldier so he instinctively presented his handgun and shot the guerilla twice in the chest, launching both rounds in quick succession. According to the anecdotal history, the technique originated with a Rhodesian mercenary, Mike Rousseau, engaged in the Mozambican War of Independence (1964-1974). He is the leader of the Apex Predators, an infamous outfit of ruthless freelance Pilots. Thats why practicing the Mozambique Drill is so important. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Although two shots to the vitals of an attacker will stop a threat cold in most situations, it doesnt work 100 percent of the time. [103] Stephen Jeffreys' 1980 play 'The Jubilee Too' included a British volunteer who had returned from Rhodesia as one of its characters. [63], After completing training, many of the volunteers were assigned to the all-white Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) and particularly its 3 Commando sub-unit. [23] In 1979, the military historian John Keegan noted that foreigners made up between a quarter and a third of the strength of the RLI. The drill was inspired by an incident encountered by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau during the Mozambican War of Independence (1964 to about 1974). [6], The Rhodesian Front's ideology held that the end of colonial rule in Africa and the development of African nationalism during the 1950s and 1960s had been the result of international communism aided by a policy of appeasement towards African nationalists by the United Kingdom and other western countries. Heads bob around erratically and the effective zone is relatively small. Volume 9: EDC Digital Magazine. During the Mozambique War of Independence (1964-1974) mercenary Mike Rousseau was fighting at the airport in Moputo. "All too many of the other great tragedies of historyStalins atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a fewwere perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. Over the years, this drill has morphed into a variety of other drills and, if you put any two firearms instructors together, youll get a different opinion as to how its to be properly executed. [62] He had previously attempted to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, but was rejected. They observed that the volunteers "failed in their efforts to protect the white regime, but not before they supported and contributed to a conflict that lasted fifteen years and claimed tens of thousands of lives". In the 1980s, the Los Angeles Police Department began teaching the drill but renamed it the more politically correct Failure Drill. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. The articles in Soldier of Fortune reflected Rhodesian government propaganda, as they claimed that the country was a western democracy, the war was being fought against communism and did not discuss the oppression of Rhodesia's black majority. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the If youre looking for some variety in your training, one practical application of the drill is to fire the first two shots to the targets center mass (V1), then take two steps back to create distance before the third shot. Rousseau immediately performed a "double tap" maneuver, a controlled shooting technique in which the shooter makes two quick shots at the target's torso. [48] The British intelligence agencies also infiltrated agents into the Rhodesian Security Forces.[49]. Springfield Armory recommends you seek qualified and competent training from a [62] Those who failed this training had to leave the country, with their airfare home being paid by the Rhodesian government. The pelvis does not move as erratically as the head or shoulders, and should be an easier target than a bobbing and weaving head. [32] For instance, the American neo-Nazi Harold Covington claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army before being deported due to his racism. This is a drill created during the Mozambique War of Independence, when a Rhodesian Mercenary (Mike Rousseau) had an up-close encounter with an opponent wielding an AK-47. slams Colorado gun control bills, Biden's FAA Nominee Can't Answer a Single Question About Aviation, Russell Brand was challenged to give examples of MSNBC pushing misinformation (that was a BAD idea), Trump Reveals What He'll Do If He's Indicted, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. [62] The revelations about Lamb's history embarrassed the Army and led to concerns in Rhodesia about the quality of the foreign volunteers. The most common motivation was opposition to governments led by black people, but other volunteers were motivated by anti-communism or a desire for adventure. Those who were considered potentially suitable were sent information packs, and asked to supply documentation to support their application; preference was given to applicants who provided notarized documents in their response. Now you understand the history and background as well as the importance of the Failure Drill. Silveira v Lockyer, (9th Cir. The Mozambique Drill,[1] also known as the Failure Drill, or Failure to Stop drill and, informally, as "two to the body, one to the head,"[2][3] is a close-quarters shooting technique that requires the shooter to fire twice into the torso of a target (known as a double tap or hammered pair to the center of mass), and follow up with a more difficult head shot that, if properly placed, will instantaneously stop the target if the previous shots failed to do so. All rights reserved. The Rhodesian government openly advertised in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine during 1975. The historian Luise White noted in 2004 that "the figure most sources cite is 1,500 foreign soldiers, of whom perhaps 400 were American", though the Rhodesian Army put the number at 1,000 including 100 Americans. Due to the sanctions against Rhodesia, these ads were generally lodged via front organisations and were vague about the country the volunteers would serve in. If a few hundred Jewish fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto could hold off the Wehrmacht for almost a month with only a handful of weapons, six million Jews armed with rifles could not so easily have been herded into cattle cars." As he turned a corner, he bumped into a FRELIMO guerrilla armed with an AK-47. [34][62] Rhodesian recruiters told prospective Australian recruits that the cost of living was much lower in Rhodesia. [80] Many Africans believed that the inaction of the western governments demonstrated their lack of commitment to combating white minority rule in Rhodesia and South Africa. If any of your three shots miss, you have failed the drill. [66], Under the terms of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement that ended the war the British government resumed control over Rhodesia in December 1979, with the country temporarily reverting to the colony of Southern Rhodesia until elections could be held. Although he aimed for the fighters ocular cavity, the adrenaline coursing through Rousseaus body caused him to miss. These men were often directed to wear Rhodesian uniforms, and the South African government falsely claimed that some had volunteered for the Rhodesian Security Forces. Rousseaus exploit turned into the Failure Drill and was included in the Academys curriculum starting in the late 1970s. While a thousand organizations use the Holocaust as a platform for speeches about tolerance, Children Of Jewish Holocaust Survivors [Jews Can Shoot] is conducting firearms training Freedom is not defended with empty idealism easily perverted into appeasement of evil, but with the force of arms.. Live The Armory Life. Rousseau related the story to an acquaintance, small arms expert Jeff Cooper, founder of the Gunsite Academy shooting school, who incorporated the "Mozambique Drill" into his modern technique shooting method. Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Portugal thought they had free rein over Africa. In this work she estimated that around 100 Americans served with the Rhodesian Security Forces between 1976 and 1980. He has trained with some of the countrys finest firearm instructors in handguns, rifles/carbines, shotguns and long-range shooting. What the drill emphasizes is shot placement and the ability of the defender to end the deadly encounter quickly. [98], The ZANU won the February 1980 Southern Rhodesian general election. |-- Ask the Administrators page. They also feared for their lives due to a perception that a black majority government would place them on trial for murder and other crimes. [5][9], The Mozambique Drill is featured in a number of movies, notably Heat and Collateral, both directed by Michael Mann.[10]. While engaged in fighting at the airport of Loureno Marques (modern-day Maputo), Rousseau was armed with only a Browning HP35 pistol. [94], Many of the foreign volunteers opposed the March 1978 Internal Settlement, under which the white Rhodesian government agreed to cede power to moderate black leaders. [51] As a result, there are a range of estimates of the numbers of foreigners who travelled to Rhodesia to serve with the security forces: British citizens made up the majority of the foreign volunteers who served with the Rhodesian Security Forces. You can also take two steps to the side to get offline of the attack before making the final head shot. [1][5][8][9], The Mozambique Drill was incorporated in the Gunsite curriculum from the late 1970s. [19][20] In April 1979, 60,000 members of the military and police were on active duty to protect that month's Rhodesian general election. Named for Mike Rousseau, an associate of Jeff Cooper, who, ironically, died during the war in Rhodesia. Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals He told Cooper the story, and Cooper began to teach what he called the "Mozambique Drill" at Gunsite. The shots should be fired as fast as you are able, however they shouldnt be so fast that you miss your intended target. [5], The Mozambique Drill is intended to ensure that the target is immediately stopped, by first placing two shots into the larger, easier-to-hit mass of the upper body, then, if the target is still active, following with a third, more precisely aimed and difficult head shot. To guarantee instant incapacitation by impacting the brain and central nervous system, the head shot must be delivered to the area between eyebrows and upper lip, otherwise, various bony areas of the skull could deflect the bullet. Rhodesian Mike Rousseau was serving as a mercenary in the Mozambican War of Independence. In 1976 former Portuguese officials offered 2,000 white soldiers who had served with the UNITA nationalist movement in Angola until that country's independence. Once you can achieve repeatable accuracy, then you can start to speed things up. Proper tactics can vary greatly depending on the circumstances and situation. [44] Many volunteers were also strongly anti-communist, and wanted to stop the further spread of this ideology in Africa. [67] Many of the volunteers were frustrated that they were paid only in Rhodesian dollars, as foreign banks would not process this currency and the Rhodesian government allowed no more than R$1,500 to be converted to other currencies. [2][3] Accordingly, the government issued Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom in November 1965, with the colony becoming Rhodesia. However, since you wont have time to interview your attacker in the heat of the moment, the specific cause of the failure isnt important. The JEWS CAN SHOOT trademarks are owned and controlled by Doris Wise Montrose. Rousseau and his mates were in action clearing the airport in what was then known as Lourenco Marques, the Maputo appellation came later. [86] Due to the difficulty of drafting legislation that could effectively ban Britons from serving with Rhodesia or enforcing the measures that were brought in, there is no record of any British citizens being punished for serving with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the war. a close quarter tactical method of killing a target with two shots to the chest and one follow up shot to the head. From the beginning, Africas indigenous people resisted. Until the early 1970s the Rhodesian Security Forces had little difficulty in defeating the guerrillas. This drill was popularised by Rhodesian mercenary Mike Rousseau, during the Mozambican War of Independence, who was the inspiration for the character of Kuben Blisk. [90] The activities of Americans in Rhodesia were widely publicised in the United States, leading to protests. |-- Latest Breaking News Blisk's character is based off Rhodesian mercenary Michael Rousseau, who popularized the shooting technique known as the Mozambique drill. The views This little rhyme, refers to the Mozambique Drill. The French troops were being withdrawn from Djibouti upon that country's independence, and French intelligence agents helped facilitate their recruitment by the Rhodesian Army. This was because they believed that it was being fought to sustain white rule and prevent communists from taking over the country. Felons can be high on adrenalin or drugs to the point that they do not recognize or respond to pain. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy. You fight with what you have, and at about ten paces (or five yards) Rousseau fired two 9mm rounds into the fighters chest. Rousseauarmed onyl with a pistolturned a corner and encountered an enemy soldier carrying an AK-47. John McVicar Malloch ICD, was a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East until the early 1980s. Two to the body, one to the head, is guaranteed to leave them dead.. All too many of the other great tragedies of history - Stalin's atrocities, the killing fields of Cambodia, the Holocaust, to name but a few - were perpetrated by armed troops against unarmed populations. [44] The Rhodesian military rarely discussed the foreign volunteers with journalists. Rousseau immediately brought up his Browning . He was fighting in the Mozambican War of Independence 1964-1974. While Im no gunfighter and there isnt any (sane) person who wants to learn gunfighting from me, Id offer another alternative that might be more slightly attainable to more people, and which is suggested by our own Stephen Wenger based off of his decades in studying armed self-defense. The Mozambique drill was made famous by Jeff Cooper after learning about this incident. Habah l'hargecha hashkem l'hargo -- "If someone is coming to kill you, rise against him and kill him first.". The Mozambique drill is performed for both accuracy and time. Its a port city in southern Mozambique where it can be hot with humidity over 80 percent. All Rights Reserved. Your goal should be three accurate shots in under four seconds. [79] Both the main nationalist groups believed that the volunteers' presence indicated that western governments supported the Rhodesian regime. All other white military personnel, other than members of the Selous Scouts unit that had a reputation for atrocities, were given an assurance that they would not be required to leave the military. [43] The academic Luise White has written that they were commonly opposed to the establishment of governments run by black people and did not have any particular commitment to Rhodesia itself. [42] Small numbers of black ex-Flechas from Mozambique were also accepted after the end of Portuguese rule in that country; they were paid less than white soldiers. At the time of UDI, the Rhodesian Army had a strength of over 18,400, including 15,000 reservists, the Rhodesian Air Force had a small but modern fleet of combat aircraft and the paramilitary British South Africa Police included 7,000 full time and 25,000 reserve personnel. [22] The army units manned by full time personnel, which included a high proportion of white regular and conscripted soldiers, were the most powerful element of the security forces and formed a strategic reserve that responded to the guerrilla activities. Important Notices: By participating on this discussion Jeff Cooper created The Modern Technique of the Pistol and the Combat Mindset. [34], In addition to using advertisements, Rhodesian recruitment teams, including some led by Lamprecht, visited several countries. [16] The academic Kyle Burke has written that some anti-government paramilitary forces in the United States draw inspiration from the volunteers, and cite them as an example when encouraging violence against African Americans. In 2021 White wrote that the numbers of foreign volunteers may have been small, and the ex-Rhodesian generals she had interviewed "scoffed at me when I asked if there were fifteen hundred foreigners in the Rhodesian Army". During fighting at the. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Rousseau was carrying his Browning HP35 pistol when he turned a corner and found himself face-to-face with a guerilla armed with an AK-47. [17] The Army's structure of administrative corps was similar to that of the British Army, and many of its officers had undergone training in the United Kingdom.

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